Quick & Easy Broccoli with Cheese

I debated about whether to post this recipe or not. It's something I cook a good bit around here, so it seems very basic and something that everyone already knows. However, I am sure that someone, somewhere doesn't know a thing about cooking broccoli and cheese unless it comes from a bag in the frozen food section that you just pop in the microwave to cook and has the cheese already in it.

Expensive.

So, my frugal friends, in case you didn't know... here is the quick, easy, and cheap way to cook fresh or frozen broccoli with cheese.

First you have to have broccoli. This time of year you can get it pretty cheaply at the grocery store fresh, or if that's too intimidating for you just grab a bag of inexpensive cut broccoli or broccoli florets. My kids don't like the "trees" in the broccoli, so we like the "cut" stuff because it has stem pieces which Horse Love and The Monkey prefer. Besides, it's cheaper. However, these pictures are of some fresh broccoli florets that came in our produce co-op this week.

Place your fresh or frozen broccoli in a microwave-safe bowl or container. (I happen to have a small Microcooker made by Pampered Chef. We love it, and I need to get the large one!) Add a couple tablespoons of water and cover with either a lid or some plastic wrap. If frozen, microwave according to package directions. If fresh, my rule of thumb is about 3 minutes for every 1 1/2 cups of broccoli. Then I take it out, stir it, and stick my fork in it. If it's not tender enough, it goes back in for another minute and I check it again. When it's ready it will look like this:

Once your broccoli is cooked, drain the excess water. Salt and pepper to taste. While it's still hot, sprinkle with a handful of shredded cheddar and lightly stir - just until the cheese gets mixed in a little. You don't want all of it clumping or falling to the bottom. Add as little or as much cheese as you prefer. Cover and let sit a couple minutes until the cheese is melted.